| For individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain | | | | TBI patients. However, these medications should be |
| injury (or TBI), treatment begins the minute they are in | | | | taken with caution as they can potentially depress |
| the presence of a medical professional-usually either | | | | breathing and dramatically lower blood pressure. |
| an EMT worker or an Emergency Room doctor. | | | | Surgery |
| While little can be done to reverse any initial damage | | | | If a TBI patient has sustained contusions or |
| caused by the injury, medical professionals can work | | | | hematomas as a result of his or her injury, these |
| to prevent any further injury to the brain of the | | | | masses may need to be removed through surgery. A |
| affected individual. The most important course of | | | | craniotomy (which is a removal of a portion of the |
| action is to make sure the individual is getting enough | | | | skull) is necessary in approximately one third of |
| oxygen, as oxygen deprivation can result in further | | | | patients with a severe traumatic brain injury. |
| brain damage. | | | | Rehabilitation |
| Medical personnel will also work to ensure proper | | | | Individuals who are in the recovery stages of a |
| blood flow in the individual and to control his or her | | | | traumatic brain injury will usually undergo different |
| blood pressure. | | | | types of rehabilitation including |
| Reducing Intracranial Pressure | | | | · physical therapy |
| Intracranial pressure can rise in patients with a | | | | · occupational therapy |
| traumatic brain injury, and so pressure levels are | | | | · speech / language therapy |
| closely monitored. Possible ways to treat high | | | | · psychological treatment |
| intracranial pressure include | | | | · psychiatric treatment |
| · straightening or raising the head of the | | | | The purpose of any type of rehabilitation is to restore |
| individual to allow greater blood flow | | | | the patient's quality of life to what they experienced |
| · performing a ventriculostomy-a procedure | | | | prior to their traumatic brain injury as much as possible. |
| that drains cerebrospinal fluid from ventricles | | | | It is possible for individuals displaying prolonged |
| · use of a sedative or paralytic agents | | | | psychiatric or behavioral problems to receive |
| · use of hyperventilation, which decreases | | | | medication to help them return to their previous mental |
| blood flow to the brain | | | | state. However, continuous psychotherapy or |
| Seizure Prevention | | | | psychiatric treatment may be required. |
| Seizures are common in individuals who have had a | | | | If you would like more information on treatment options |
| traumatic brain injury. As such, medical professionals | | | | for people with traumatic brain injuries, contact the |
| will often use benzodiazepines to prevent seizures in | | | | brain injury attorneys of Williams Kherkher today. |